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Like a hydra-headed monster, it is a terror that will not die, that, however often beaten back, inevitably and inexorably returns. It is Japan and the issue of immigration.

Can the monster be mollified, tamed, and adopted? Should it be? Can Japan live with it, without being consumed--or grievously weakened--by immigration?

Frankly, I have my doubts. Which is to say, I sympathize with the restrictive, conservative and cautious approach Japan has taken about admitting foreigners for long term residence, and support Japan’s summary deportation of short-term over-stayers.

People who know Japan know that new policies do not get adopted based upon soothing, high-minded rhetoric, throwing caution to the wind, i.e., without giving equal (or greater) weight to likely downsides.

And it has been the potential downsides of immigration (still speakable in Japan, as pro-‘diversity’ political correctness--the advent of which would itself be one of the downsides--has not yet banished truth-telling from the public square) that have kept a restrictive policies in place.

But the pro-immigration pressures continue to mount, as do stratagems at liberalization of narrow pro-immigration interests.

Japan Mountain View (Photo credit: Vincent_AF)

Item: The May 11 Nihon Keizai Shimbun carries an interview with Yamauchi Takashi, CEO of Taisei Construction, in which one of the main issues is how Japan’s construction industry is coping with a severe labor shortage. Yamauchi speaks of some specialties, like framing work in construction of apartment buildings, where the ratio of jobs to available people is 7:1.

The labor shortage is general throughout the industry and the country. It is particularly severe in the Tokyo metropolitan area, where companies like Taisei are having to delay project starts.

The outlook is even more alarming, with looming project and labor demands for earthquake/tsunami reconstruction in the Tohoko region and, particularly, infrastructure and special purpose construction relating to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Taisei and other companies are raising base wages, paying higher bonuses, and intensifying coordination with sub-contractors to maximize labor productivity. Taisei is also encouraging sub-contractors to hire foreign workers.

Item: The lead story in the May 12 Nihon Keizai Shimbun is the Abe government’s possible expansion of criteria for employing foreigners in the six “national strategic special zones” that are part of Abenomics’ “third arrow” growth strategy.

A new category of eligibility for extended residence is likely to be created for foreign entrepreneurs starting businesses in the zones. It may also become easier within the zones to hire foreign household and childcare service workers.

The hint is that these are “camel’s nose under the tent” initiatives that in due course will be generalized throughout the country.

The advisory committee on national strategic special zones (chaired by PM Abe himself) meeting on May 12 is considering “private sector” proposals like that above on immigration. Proposals accepted by the government will be incorporated in the formal “Growth Strategy” to be unveiled next month.

New regulations relating to foreign resident eligibility could be ready for implementation by year end.